Kodiak Wildlife Refuge worker kills charging bearA technician working for the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge shot and killed a brown bear Sunday when it charged him and a co-worker to within a few feet near Red Lake, on the south end of Kodiak Island, a refuge official said Thursday. Deputy Refuge Manager Tevis Underwood said the technician an...

Public Safety Blotter: July 10July 2 At 12:14 a.m., corrections officers requested and police provided assistance with an unruly inmate at the Kodiak Jail. At 12:29 a.m., patrolling officers were advised of suspicious circumstances on Bartel Avenue. At 1:43 a.m., police cited a driver on Rezanof Drive East for having no proof...

TAPESTRY: Memorable Saltery road experiences keep riders on alertJust about every ATV owner in Kodiak has taken his vehicle on the narrow trail that extends from the American River near the Chiniak Highway to Saltery Cove. Dale Stratton, owner of Can’t Get Enough ATV River Fishing, is one of the first to drive the Saltery trail in the spring when there, in mos...

God created mountains, oceans to remind us who’s in chargeThis has been a week of firsts for me. First ferry ride on the M/Vs Kennicott and Tustumena each, first Xtratuf wearing (I earned the privilege later), first small boat ride on the ocean, first puffin sighting, first salmon catches (trolling, a silver and a bright pink, and several others that we...

Alaska Flag Day: Reflecting on history, good and badIf you grew up in Alaska, at one point or another you have learned about Benny Benson and the creation of the Alaska state flag. If you are like me, the details of the story became a little faded over the years. So, on Alaska Flag Day, I am revisiting the story of our ‘simple flag’ and I hope you...

Navy training harms marine lifeTo the Editor, NOAA (National Marine Fisheries Service) is taking public comments until July 17 regarding the Navy’s request of a Letter of Authorization to continue training and testing in the Pacific Northwest including the Gulf of Alaska until 2020. Comments can be made on NOAA’s website under...

STRIKING GOLD: Swearingin qualifies for national tournamentBy DEREK CLARKSTON Mirror Writer Dustin Swearingin was not pleased when his mom signed him up to compete for a spot at the Junior Gold Championships — the biggest youth bowling tournament in the nation. “I was actually pretty mad at my mom for signing me up because usually the people signed up ha...

Kodiak loses two at DistrictsThe Kodiak Little League intermediate baseball all-stars fell to 0-3 in District I play after a pair of losses on Wednesday and Thursday. Despite getting a complete-game performance from Nevin Lee, Kodiak fell, 9-2, to Abbott-O-Rabbit on Wednesday in Knik. On Thursday, Kodiak mustered only a pair...